AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CROATIA HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE

ZAGREB, Dec 8 (Hina) - Amnesty International believes that it is no time for celebration while commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights since many countries- signatories still violate its regulations, Amnesty International Croatia (AIH) director Milena Beade said on Tuesday. Speaking at a press conference in Zagreb, Beade said that one should pay respects to thousands of human rights activists throughout the world who were killed or subjected to torture and imprisonment. Referring to an AI report published in June this year, Beade said that torture was reported in 117 countries, while arbitrary killing was reported in 55 countries and death penalty in more than 40 countries. The AIH joined the campaign marking the anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights on the International Human Rights Day, December 10, 1997. The aim of the campaign, which ends on the same date this year, was to increase the level of awareness of the importance of the Declaration. The campaign in Croatia included exhibitions and concerts and the publishing of a booklet with the shortened text of the Declaration, said AIH coordinator Ines Bulic. The AIH has also gathered 3,484 signatures of individuals who pledged to promote the implementation of the Declaration. These signatures, along with another 11 million signatures, will be presented to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The central event commemorating the Declaration will be held in Paris, with high-ranking officials and about 300 human rights activists from more than 100 countries in attendance. (hina) rml